UAE & Dubai: a global hub under a tougher AML law.
Record tourism, growing banking assets and a surge in family-office and holding structures, under Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 and an industrial strategy to double manufacturing.
Automobiles & Advanced Manufacturing
Under Operation 300bn the UAE is doubling industry's contribution to GDP, bringing new plants, joint ventures and supplier networks into a market that also imports most of its vehicles and building products.
- Tougher AML law
Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 replaced the 2018 AML law from 14 October 2025, widening scope, adding tax evasion as an explicit predicate offence and raising penalties: relevant to trade-based money laundering through goods and parts.Source: Hadef & Partners
- A softer 2026
Real GDP fell 2.1% year on year in Q2 2026 as regional conflict disrupted travel and trade; H1 growth was 0.4%.Source: Khaleej Times, citing FCSC
PE, Banking & Financial Services
A global wealth and banking hub with fast-growing balance sheets, a tougher AML regime and a surge of family-office structures.
- AML Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025
Broadens scope to virtual assets, lowers evidential thresholds, strengthens the FIU and raises penalties.Source: Hadef & Partners
- Data protection still maturing
The UAE PDPL has been in force since January 2022, but its executive regulations remained unissued as of August 2026.Source: BusinessDubai
Pharma, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
An import-dependent market building local manufacturing, with a regional role in distribution that brings exposure to diversion and counterfeits.
- Health insurance growth
Health premiums rose 16.3% to Dh30 billion in 2025, raising the stakes on provider and claims fraud.Source: Khaleej Times, citing the CBUAE annual statistical report
- AML reach into trade
The 2025 AML law expands obligations relevant to trade in high-value goods and regional distribution.Source: Hadef & Partners
Technology, Media & Telecommunications
A data-centre and AI hub whose data-protection regime is still being operationalised.
- Virtual assets in AML scope
The 2025 AML law expressly covers offences committed through digital systems and virtual assets.Source: Hadef & Partners
Retail & Consumer
A luxury and re-export hub where e-commerce is approaching a fifth of retail.
- Trade-based money laundering in focus
The 2025 AML law's tougher penalties and wider scope reach high-value goods traders and re-exporters.Source: Hadef & Partners
Hospitality, Entertainment & Leisure
Dubai set its third consecutive tourism record in 2025, and the UAE has licensed its first commercial gaming resort.
- Regulated commercial gaming
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority issued the UAE's first commercial gaming facility licence to Wynn's Al Marjan Island resort.Source: iGaming Business
- Travel disruption in 2026
Regional conflict hit tourism, transport and trade in Q2 2026, when real GDP fell 2.1% year on year.Source: Khaleej Times, citing FCSC
Insurance, Mutual Funds & Others
Double-digit premium growth and a strengthened AML regime for financial intermediaries.
- Tougher AML obligations
Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 strengthens regulator powers and penalties across financial institutions.Source: Hadef & Partners
Sources
- Khaleej Times, UAE industrial exports hit Dh262b as sector's GDP contribution climbs by 70%, 2026.
- Best Selling Cars Blog, United Arab Emirates full year 2025, Feb 2026.
- Reuters (via New Straits Times), UAE's real GDP grows 6.2% in 2025, May 2026.
- Hadef & Partners, A new era for AML/CTF/PF in the UAE: Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025, Oct 2025.
- Khaleej Times, citing FCSC, UAE economy grows 0.4% to Dh961.9 billion in H1 2026 as non-oil sectors expand, Oct 2026.
- Emirates 24|7, citing CBUAE data, UAE banking sector August 2026: total assets hit Dh5.74 trillion, Oct 2026.
- Milano Finanza, Dubai International Financial Centre: revenues up 20%, profit up 28% in 2025, Feb 2026.
- BusinessDubai, UAE PDPL: personal data protection guide, Reviewed Aug 2026.
- The National, on an ADQ white paper, UAE pharma market to be valued at $4.7bn by 2025, Feb 2022.
- Khaleej Times, citing the CBUAE annual statistical report, UAE insurance premiums jump 15% to Dh74.8 billion, Aug 2026.
- WAM, on the EZDubai–Euromonitor report, UAE e-commerce market size reaches AED42.2 billion in 2025, Sep 2026.
- Gulf News, citing Dubai DET, Dubai tourism hits record as 19.59m international visitors arrive in 2025, Feb 2026.
- iGaming Business, UAE awards its first commercial gaming licence to Wynn, Oct 2024.